The Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has declared that 700 street traders displaced by the Agodi Gate Junction Improvement Works will be given free stalls in the new market built in the area as part of the project.
The governor stated this on Friday at the commissioning of the Idi Ape, Civic Centre, Agodi Gate Junction Improvement Projects, noting that the projects will reduce the number of man-hours spent by residents commuting roads in the city.
He added that the project would also ease traffic flow and contribute to boosting commercial activities in the axis, just as it would help the government to enforce the rule of law regarding street trading and orderliness in the city.
Governor Makinde, who spoke to the admiration of jubilant market men and women, said three new Junction Improvement Projects would come up in UI-Agbowo, Polytechnic Road-Sango and Eleyele Junction.
According to the governor, the delivery of the projects also activated another component in his Oyo State Roadmap to Sustainable Development, 2023-2027, which has to do with the rule of law and orderliness in the society.
He appreciated the Governor of Anambra State, Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo, for being part of the occasion, stating that his presence in Ibadan showed that it was time to work together at this period in the life of the country rather than looking for what could divide the people.
“As you have already seen from the available visual, we are commissioning these three junction improvement works at Agodi Gate, Civic Centre and Idi Ape. These are important projects that will reduce the man-hours spent in traffic in Ibadan,” he stated.
“Let me also announce that another three are coming to Ibadan; U.I junction is coming, Poly Road junction is coming and Eleyele junction is also coming.
“More importantly, by completing and commissioning this project, we are making a clear statement and those of you in Ibadan would have been aware of the chaos this place used to be. With this project, we are bringing sanity to this axis.
“So, it is significant in our quest to implement another component in our Oyo State Roadmap for Sustainable Development 2023-2027, and that is the rule of law.
“The shops that are here are for those trading by the side of the road, and they will be given free of charge. Nobody will collect one Naira from you. This means 700 of you will be moving out of the street into this place. So, we thank God.
“We can see how beautiful this environment is now and our plan is to keep it that way. Street trading and illegal dumping of refuse at road medians are two uncivil acts we must do away with as citizens.
“I have given a directive that anyone found carrying out such activities in this area should face the full wrath of the law.
